jbowman1993

I wanted to applaud the inventor of the "Sports Rack" that I see on almost every SUV and pickup with a cap.

That person was a genius. They developed a product that has been purchased by tens of thousands of people in Thailand alone, and no one has ever used it, EVER.

I started counting them yesterday, as I drove through Bangkok. I stopped after 200 in the first 15 minutes. Then I started counting the number of people who actually where USING their rack. In the next two hours, the grand total was zero, out of thousands of the ###### things that I saw.

Why do people purchase them? They don't use them, and they cut down on the fuel economy. What is the point?

When I would date a women, I would always ask myself "Will I have something to talk to this person about 25 years from now?" Perhaps if you guys applied the same standard, you might have enjoyed more stimulating conversation.

I fully recommend students study from a private teacher. As a professional trumpet player, I can give you the number of famous trumpet players who were self taught. The number is a big fat zero.

Learning technique, musicianship, phrasing, and nuances of the instrument are best past in the private lesson setting.

I think I can help with this.

There are different kinds of music schools. The shopping mall schools run by Yamaha and KPM are good places to take younger students. They are usually staffed by recent college music graduates, and have resonable fees. The english levels will vary, but you can find them in most of the major malls.

If your student is more advanced, you would be better off consulting teachers at some of the local universities, for private instruction.

Top music school in Thailand, and one of the top 3 in SE Asia - Mahidol University College of Music

Others that are not bad - Kasetsart University, Silpakorn University, Chulalongkorn Univerisity, and Rangsit University.

The rest will be much lower level in terms of instruction quality, facilities etc..

Three schools I would recommend (since I work at MU), would be the Mahidol University College of Music - Campus's for the General Public. These serve students as young as 3, through college level, and beyond. Many of the MU College of Music faculty teach at these campuses on the weekend.

located at Seri Center (Bang-Na)

and newly opened at Siam Paragon

Also, the Arun Aree Music Center (also called Dr. Sax). This is located at Central Pinklao

I have to second his thoughts about the Prerunner. I have had mine since February (took 2 months, but I ordered it from a Bangkok dealer). It has been a fantastic car to drive.

The stearing is amazingly responsive, and the full economy has been excellent for a truck this size -(11-13 kpl, depending on my driving).

I was able to get quite a few more extra's out of the dealer, however. I think that you might be about too also, if you bargain harder. I can' say enough for the dealer chain Thonburi Toyota. They were very professional and knowledgable. Not just a bunch of pretty girls.

Word of warning. I had my truck parked at Central Pinklao on friday, and someone decided the would pry off my plastic "Intercooler" emblem, as well as one of the "3.0 D4D" emblems on the side. The didn't seem to scratch the paint, but I am leaving right now to have them replaced, which cost 1,100 baht. Aparently, people like to take these and attach them to their lower model Vigos. Makes them feel special.

Ill attach a picture later today.

Peace

I'm happy to raise the asking price of my condo, for any disenfranchised farangs who feel the need to throw money at me.

Currently asking 1.1 mil, but you can have it for 1.5, if you ask nicely.

I've got a condo for sale, if any of you displaced farangs are interested!

My argument against the death penalty isn't for the 999 out ouf 1000 who are guilty. It is for the 1 in a 1000 person who was wrongly convicited for a crime he didn't commit. Recent DNA testing has set many death row inmates free, because it proved that they were not the killers. I wonder how many other innocent people died, because the testing wasn't available, or wasn't used. I am sure it is more than one.

The blood of the innocent who were falsely convicted are on the state's hands. It's happened before, it will happen again. Leave vengence to the supreme being in your life. She knows better than you.

From each according to his ability, to each according to his need.

Well, we all saw how well that worked out, didn't we.

I don't have a problem with people buying toys or handbags. It's their money, and it is up to themselves to decide if the bag or toy will buy them happiness or not. The question is not about what other people do, the question is, what can I do? What kind of person do I want to be? What kind of person can I live with myself being? When we answer those questions, we decide to help others or not.

Remember some other words that have proved fitting, more often than not:

Judge not, lest ye be judged.

Thats helpful Hans. Keep up the good work.

Thanks for the info! I will try both ways, and see what happens!

I just bought a Sony Handycam (SR-100, the new hard disk cam), and it works great. I went to burn a DVD of material I had just shot, using the software that came with the camcorder (Imagemixer) and it asked me if I wanted to burn the disk for NTSC or PAL. I understand the difference between the two systems, but I have never encountered this question using DVD buring software before.

If I want to send some of these burned DVD's to the US (so my parents can see their new grandbaby), do I need to burn them for NTSC? It seems to take the machine hours to convert to that format, since my handycam is in PAL. If i do burn the DVD for NTSC, am I assured that it will play on most US DVD players?

Any insight into my question would be appreciated.

Thanks!

How the colonel likes to see doom, Thailand in 'serious trouble', civil war predicted in his other posts!

I would say more than smiles Thailand is a land of laughter, and for those foreigners who don't enjoy simple pleasures such as going out in groups, eating together and making gentle fun of each other, then they're never going to be content.

A land of laughter?

Hmmm, right.

A near civil war in the three southernmost provinces, no solution in sight...

Bangkok's industrial suburbs descending more and more into a nightmare of youth gang violence...

A still unsolved political crises with a population polarised to an extend it never was...

An economy that is getting worse...

Still unsolved land right issues in the north and northeast...

Huge debts under especially the rural population...

Drugs on the way to make a huge return...

But no, everything is perfectly in order, because we can go out and have a laugh. Simple pleasures for simplistic people...

Sounds like you could be talking about France as well, or the US.

Seriously.... Don't you guys have anything better to do than play the "whose intellect is superior" game? Go help out someone less fortunate than yourself. Much more productive than comparing mental penis sizes.

Pestering them is a good technique. Send a letter every other day and show up there on the other day. Always be polite and simply ask for what is due. Don't make threats, just making a reminder visit. And ask for a date when they will promise to pay every time you are turned down. Ask them to sign it.

I know it sounds silly, but the squeeky wheel does get the oil.

I agree with Paul. Don't forget to smile each and every time, but you'll eventually be successful.

Sheraton Grande on Sukhumvit always has a great jazz group playing each evening. Great place to hang and listen to great music.

Ever fallen asleep for one second, and woken up to find a monkey in your ass? I hate that.

All of my degrees are in trumpet performance (BM, MM, DMA). I kept accumulating them because I wanted to teach at the college level.

Me and my better, and wiser, and cuter, and funnier half

I would not like to see the 'foreign ownership of land' laws repealed. I don't want all the land being bought up by foreign investors. I would like to see them changed to cater for married couples where one of the couple is a Thai Citizen. I think it should be easier for Farangs married to Thais and living in LoS to get long term visas, residency and citizenship. It does actually benefit LoS and reduces the stress on marriages.

I would not like corruption to be completely removed - it makes Thailand Thailand (and I like giving a purple persuader for a misdemeanour driving offence rather than get points and a ban like in the UK). Selfish, I know!

Corruption is everywhere in the world. I think its a lot safer where its blatant and you can see it from a mile off and can use it to your advantage or avoid it. A lot more dangerous when it gets more complex and happens in the shadows of the boardroom - you just can't see the axe coming.

Thailand seems to be trying to clean up its act (however you feel about Thaksin) - perves go to Cambodian Vietnam and Myanmar for their kiddies mostly now - the pedo 'holiday clubs' have gone. Drugs are still rampant, but at least they are mostly imported now (albeit from next door). I hope our home countries help all they can to

Yep, my law to introduce would be the immigration rules of the UK with regard to married couples. Let us give back to LoS by living there and being part of it instead of being treated like tourists who have overstayed their welcome. Love the Thais, love the country, give us the chance to become part of it and put something back.

Great post Wolf! I completely agree. Thailand, as a developing nation, is not yet in the position to open up all its real estate to foreign investment. And I don't think it will be in that position for several more years. Nothing wrong with it. In this modern age, "economic colonization" is the modern way of doing things. Until Thailand can compete with the stonger economies of more developed nations, they have the right to protect their nation in any way they see fit. Thats one of the reasons people are so pissed at the Shin Corp sale. They see this sale of "national assets" as the first step to foreign dominance of their country, and they don't like it.

I also agree, however, about giving more rights to taxpaying married couples, but you have to be careful with that too (I am one of these myself). People will exploit any legal loopholes they can. Just take a look at all the interesting strategies flying around the the real estate forum.

I got caught by one of those speed cameras in the US once, and recieved a ticket in the mail. I think they are a good thing, and a good deterrent, but they need good publicity, and good signage, so people are aware of them, and modify their behavior.

I hope it works!

Glad people resurrected this thread. It has stayed close to my heart and my thoughts for quite a while.

I think it is human nature to want to better yourself, and hope to better the place that you live, as well. But lets also remember that actions speak louder, and last longer, than words. I like to ask myself, "What am I actually doing to make my community a better place? Besides bitching on an expat forum, lol."

Recognizing differences is the first step in cultural understanding and acceptance. I hope that the way I live my life makes my community a better place for others.

I would start with the whole list that follows:

Thailand needs a complete overhaul.

Total lack of common sense

total lack of respect

total lack of conscious

total lack of courtesy

no moral responsibility

totally corrupt population - from birth to adulthood

LOS - land of smiles - only when passing money from your hands to theirs

Thai philosophy - foreigners are the scum of the earth and must be tolerated in exchange for their cash

Sidewalks not made for walking

Sidewalks used as extension of a persons business enterprise

Sidewalks used as parking for motorcycles, cars, trucks streets are filthy

Restaurants that spray food with insecticide before cooking and serving

Pastry shops that close once a week to fumigate

Total lack of traffic laws

Police only interested in extorting your hard earned cash

the public transport system

the taxi drivers

the scruffiness and filth

the poor service

the surliness and unfriendliness of the thais in the street markets and the shoddy tat they try to sell.

the total lack of any sense of aesthetics about development.

the car hire company that tries to charge for the repair to the car when it fails to start.

the dangerous driving and road system

the padding of bills restaurants , and the problems in correcting restaurants mistakes.

A country where lies and deception permeate every level of the social fabric

A country where your instincts scream at you every waking moment to get the hel_l away from here

Learn a language that does not have a direct translation for ‘yes’ or ‘no’

A language where the words for a horse and a dog sound the same

Live in a country that is floundering in a sea of corruption

A smile is a request for interest.

A turned head is a snub.

No eye contact is a lack of interest, or care.

There is no interest in education.

Truth holds no value.

The arts are barely alive in Asia, unless you count copying. No live band writes their own material, painters copy from photographs, and there is nearly no literature produced.

Philosophy is not here. Never discussed here

No recognizable allegiance to any consensual reality, scientific or otherwise. No recognizable living arts.

The cultures amount to the importation of currently fashionable cell phones.

Even love is a business proposition here, a bargain. A temporary bargain.

Children locked up in brothels for sexual services.

Children forced to work in sweatshops under hellish conditions.

Children sold as camel jockeys.

Child beggars manipulated by adult gangs.

Children working as drug couriers.

Children used as loans in debt bondage.

Children forced into marriage.

Alot of from the list I am sure that many of you will 'totally' disagree with. But the above are the reality of living in Thailand.

YES! I am still living here and try to ignore all of the above. The question that was asked was - What would you change? I am realistic however and know that this is the way Thailand has been long before we 'foreigners' arrived and will never change. So, live the way they do and not worry about anything - Mai Bpen Rai NO change is needed

Man, this is gonna take a while. Ok, lets have at it!

Calmly, jbowman1993 rolled up his sleeves and got to work. He grasped the object, and began to pull. The sweat poured off his brow, filling his eyes. Blinking it away, he redoubled his efforts, and started to pull again. Straining again the huge amount of suction, jbowman1993 felt the object being to move. He braced his feet firmly, and prepared for one final effort. Finally, a loud popping sound, and the object was ripped free. Taking time to examine it, jbowman1993 concluded that, yes, this was indeed the largest stick he had every pulled out of a person's ass, in his entire life. He gave a silent prayer for God to look over the poor soul, and his shredded rectum.